RESIDENCY
Texas Residency will determine the rate you are charged for tuition (Resident or Non-Resident). The Legislature for the state of Texas sets up standards for residency and establishing residency tuition.
Note: The time period for each review may vary and we cannot guarantee that a final decision will be made before payment of tuition and fees is due, so it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for payment by the due date.
What Texas Residents Need to Know
Qualifying Texas residents can be classified as nonresidents, based on the information they provide on their applications. Also, some students currently residing in Texas are not actually residents for tuition purposes, because they do not meet the Texas Residency Requirements found provided by Chapter 21 of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules. Make sure you answer each question of the residency section completely and accurately.
Make sure your email and postal mailing addresses are correct on your admission application. The earlier you can identify a possible mistake, the easier it will be to correct.
What Out-of-State Residents Need to Know
While still lower than the resident rates in some states, tuition rates for out-of-state students in Texas can be more than double the in-state rates. The total nonresident tuition and fees for a typical full course load at Texas Southern University can be more than $11,000 per semester. It is important to know that only leasing an apartment for a year may not be enough to qualify as a resident. As a nonresident student, you have to really commit to becoming a Texas resident by meeting one of the qualifications outlined below.
Texas Residency
Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as:
- A resident of Texas
- A nonresident
- A foreign (international) student
How you’re classified is important because it determines whether you pay nonresident tuition or in-state tuition. Being a resident also qualifies you to apply for financial aid awarded by the state.
Determining Residency
When you apply for admission, the university uses information you provide on the admission application to make an initial determination about residency. This determination will remain on your student record and continue each semester in which you are enrolled, if no changes are made.
Rules for Texas residency classification for University tuition are different from residency rules for voting, obtaining a Texas driver’s license, or tax purposes. Chapter 21 of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules establish how residency is determined for higher education in the state of Texas and includes the following provisions covering some of the more common residency situations. They are neither exhaustive nor complete. Some edits have also been made to enhance readability.
Establishing Texas Residency
Individuals can establish residency in two basic ways, one based on establishing domicile and the other based on graduation from high school. The option related to establishment of domicile is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students who hold certain types of visas.
Military
A member of the United States Armed Services whose Home of Record with the military is Texas is presumed to be a Texas resident, as are his or her spouse and dependent children. A member whose Home of Record is not Texas but who provides the institution Leave and Earnings Statements that show the member has claimed Texas as his or her place of residence for the 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment is presumed to be a Texas resident, as are his or her spouse and dependent children.
A member who did not select Texas as their Home of Record when they entered the service, and has not taken steps to change their permanent residence with the military to Texas, may still qualify for a waiver under Texas statutes. Information about requesting a reclassification of residency status is provided in the next section.
Requesting Reclassification
Sometimes students submit incorrect information or information that makes it appear as though they are nonresidents, when they actually do qualify for Texas residency. In other cases, students who were initially ineligible for Texas Residency classification upon admission may later become eligible. If a student currently classified as a nonresident believes they qualify for Texas Residency, they have the option to request residency reclassification.
To request a residency review, submit a Residency Reclassification Request form, along with a completed Core Residency Questionnaire. Additional supporting documentation is required to show the student, or the parent or court-appointed legal guardian of a dependent student, has met the requirements to be classified as a Texas resident.
The Texas Administrative Code regarding residency requires a student (or their parent or spouse) to be physically present and establish domicile in Texas for 12 months prior to term in which they are enrolling. Therefore, please do not submit your residency request prior the dates listed below for the specified semester:
| Semester Enrolling | Date Reclassification Requests are Accepted |
|---|---|
| Spring | November 1 |
| Summer | April 1 |
| Fall | July 1* |
*Applicants who are high school seniors who will graduate in May/June may submit residency requests for the Fall term beginning in June.
An incomplete Residency Reclassification Request form, core residency questionnaire, and/or insufficient documentation will delay the review and processing of the request.
Deadlines
Students must submit the Residency Reclassification Request form, a core residency questionnaire, and supporting documentation no later than the first class day of the semester for which they are seeking reclassification. Any residence status changed after the census day will apply the next applicable semester.
Review Process
The Residency Office will review the Residency Reclassification Request, the core residency questionnaire, and the supporting documentation. After this initial review, and throughout the review process, additional documentation may be requested. The decision made by the Residency Office is final.